family name
Americannoun
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the hereditary surname of a family.
-
a given name frequently used in a family.
noun
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a surname, esp when regarded as representing the family honour
-
a first or middle name frequently used in a family, often originally a surname
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of family name
First recorded in 1690–1700
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Suzette Dumfries is a cousin of Denzel's father Boris, and has a long-standing fascination with the family name and its history.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
The paternal great-grandmother of goalie Matt Turner fled religious persecution in Lithuania, with his Jewish ancestors changing their family name from Turnovski to Turner when they arrived at Ellis Island.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
From the halls of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts to the luxury suites of Loews Hotels, the family name is etched into the city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
"We're happy Trump is coming," said Michael, a Swiss real estate executive who declined to give his family name, adding that he has made the trek to Davos for the past 25 years.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
For Papa, at seventeen, it made no difference that times were hard; the idea of a teahouse was an insult to the family name.
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
